Vilma Melo

Vilma Melo (born 13 June 1969) is a Brazilian actress, director, and professor. A graduate in performing arts from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Melo became famous for her works in theatre, and later on, in her works in television and film. She has won various prizes, including the Prêmio Shell, becoming the first Black woman to win the award, and a Prêmio Cenym, along with a nomination for the Prêmio APTR de Teatro. Melo began her career at the end of the 1980s. Her professional debut was in the special Metrópole in 1987. Since then, she has gone on to participate in numerous specials, performing not just as an actress, but also as a director and the person who envisioned the ideas in various projects. These include A Farsa do Fanático Torcedor (1995), The Canterville Ghost (1998), Grande Othelo – Êta Moleque Bamba! (2004), O Romance do Pavão Misterioso (2006), A Farsa da Boa Preguiça (2009), Amargo Fruto - A Vida de Billie Holliday (2016), and Mãe de Santo (2022). She became the first Black actress to win the Prêmio Shell for Best Actress for her performance in the musical Chica da Silva, where she portrays the titular protagonist. In cinemas, her debut was in the comedy Chick Thing in 2005. In recent years, she became recognized for her roles in films such as Three Summers (2019), Selvagem (2021), Reação em Cadeia (2021), União Instável (2023), and Ritmo de Natal (2023). She received a nomination for the Prêmio Shell for Best Actress in 2023 for her performance on Mãe de Santo (2022). On television, her debut role was a special guest appearance on Cidade dos Homens (2002) on TV Globo. She had many minor roles in the following years, including Avenida Brasil (2012),...